IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new legion of heroes will soon rise up and take a stand against the
Lord of Terror. On September 3, Diablo® III
will make its console debut on the Sony PlayStation® 3
computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® games and entertainment
system from Microsoft in the U.S., Canada, Spanish-speaking Latin
America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

In preparation for the upcoming launch, select retailers in these
regions are now taking preorders for the PS3™ and Xbox 360
versions of the game, which will be available at a suggested retail
price of $59.99. Both console versions of Diablo III will be
fully localized in English, German, French, Latin American Spanish,
European Spanish, Russian, Italian, Polish, and Brazilian Portuguese.
Further release details, including retail availability in Brazil, South
Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, will be announced at a
later date.

The console versions of Diablo III have been custom-tailored for
gamepad-driven action, with a dynamic camera perspective that puts your
hero front and center, as well as an all-new user interface and an
intuitive control system that make vanquishing evil feel like second
nature. Players can take on the vile denizens of the Burning Hells alone
or in a party of up to four via same-screen local cooperative play or
online over PlayStation® Network™ or the Xbox Live®
online entertainment network from Microsoft. In addition, the game
supports parties composed of both local and online players. Once gamers
experience the rush of Diablo III’s unique brand of
hack-and-slash gameplay from the comfort of their couch, Sanctuary will
never be the same.

Players who preorder either console version of Diablo III will
receive an exclusive in-game item: the Infernal Helm, which grants an
experience point boost to any character who wears it, accelerating their
progression as they rise in power. Certain retailers will also offer
limited-edition preorder bonuses—check with your local retailer for
further information.

“Playing Diablo III on a big screen with your friends brings a
whole new level of intensity to the game,and with all of the
control and interface adaptations we’ve made, it’s extremely fun to play
on PS3™ and Xbox 360,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder
of Blizzard Entertainment. “In addition to the fine-tuning we’ve done
for the console versions, we’re also including major content and design
updates we’ve made to the PC version over the past year, so players can
expect an epic Diablo gaming experience when the PS3™ and
Xbox 360 versions launch in September.”

In Diablo III, players take on the role of one of five heroic
characters—barbarian, witch doctor, wizard, monk, or demon hunter—and
embark on a perilous quest to save the world of Sanctuary from the
corrupting forces of the Burning Hells. As players make their way from
the demon-besieged town of New Tristram to the Diamond Gates of the High
Heavens, they’ll engage in pulse-pounding combat with hordes of monsters
and challenging bosses, grow in experience and ability, acquire
artifacts of incredible power, and meet key characters who’ll join them
in battle or aid them along the way.

Diablo III was originally released for Windows® and
Macintosh® PC on May 15, 2012 and within 24 hours became the
fastest-selling PC game of all time. As of December 31, 2012, Diablo
III had sold through more than 12 million copies worldwide.*
To learn more about Diablo III, including a list of participating
retailers, please visit the official website at http://www.diablo3.com.

With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous
positions currently available—visit http://jobs.blizzard.com
for more information and to learn how to apply.

* According to The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and internal company
estimates.

PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment,
Inc.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.Best
known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®
and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo®
franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer
and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of
the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s
track record includes sixteen #1-selling games and multiple Game of the
Year awards. The company's online-gaming service, Battle.net®,
is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements: Information in this press release that involves
Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future, including statements about the console versions of Diablo
III, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard
Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release
include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the
risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report
on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information
available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the
date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision
Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may
ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of
the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard
and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which
are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially
from current expectations.